It's Farmers' Market Season in Maryland!

 

Fresh fruits and vegetables taste their best and cost less when they are in season.  Many farmers' markets are already open and ready for business!  Visit a farmers' market near you and choose a variety of fresh produce to make healthy family meals and snacks.  You can also buy fresh, local produce at grocery stores during the spring, summer and fall months in Maryland.

Did you know you can use your EBT/Independence card and WIC and senior fresh fruit and vegetable checks to buy fresh produce at the farmers' market?  Some markets in Maryland even offer bonus bucks to stretch your benefits even farther when you buy fresh produce at the farmers' market.  Stop by the market manager's tent on your next visit to learn more about using your benefits at the farmers' market.

Check out the Visit Maryland site to find a farmers' market near you.  To learn more about using your SNAP and WIC benefits to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, visit the Eat Fresh Maryland site.

Here's what you may find at the farmers' market in May and June:

• Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries
• Greens like spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, kale, collards
• Beets
• Fresh Herbs
• Onions
• Scallions
• Garlic

Try these recipes to make delicious and healthy meals with fruits and vegetables from the market!

Greens and Beans
Fruit and Spring Greens Salad
Strawberry S'mores
Breakfast Banana Split

Reasons to Shop at a Farmers' Market

Why shop at a farmers' market?

Shopping at a farmers' market is a great way to get fruits and vegetables grown close to home.  These fruits and veggies taste great because farmers are able to pick them from the field and bring them to the market often in the same day!  Shopping at a farmers' market also helps to support the local economy by buying produce directly from the local farmer.  Here are some reasons to shop at a farmers' market.

Farmers' markets are fun
Farmers provide fruits and vegetables that are grown and picked during the peak of season in the region.  You may find some fruits and vegetables that you have never seen before.  This is a great way to try a new food in one of your favorite recipes.  Also there may be events going on while you shop for delicious in season foods.

Meeting the farmers
Farmers know a lot of information about how produce is grown.  Talk to the farmer to learn more about the fruits and veggies that you are buying and how to prepare them.  You might be able to learn a new recipe or cooking technique.

Children involvement
Children are more likely to eat foods that they have helped to pick out or helped prepare.  Allow them to pick out a fruit or vegetable and then they can help prepare the item.

Variety
There is a wide variety of fruits and vegetables offered because each farmer may have different techniques of growing their produce.

SNAP is accepted at some farmers' markets
Visit here for more information on using food stamps at farmers' market.

Use the USDA Farmers' Market Search to find a market near you and learn more about the foods that are in season!

Freshen Up Meals with Fall Fruits and Vegetables

As the fall leaves change to yellow, orange, and brown, the choices of fruits and vegetables at the farmers' market change too.  Fall is a perfect time to visit the farmers' market with the whole family and enjoy time outdoors together.  There might even be a market you can walk to!  Check the list of farmer's markets here.  When you visit you can choose from the freshest fall fruits and vegetables, listen to live music, and visit the information booths to learn about local services and programs.


Here is what's in season in Maryland this fall:

 

Vegetables:

• Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, and kale
• Sweet Potatoes, acorn and butternut squash, pumpkins
• Red and green cabbage

Fruits:

• Many varieties of apples
• Pears
• Raspberries

Try combining fall fruits and vegetables together in one recipes.  Here's one to try:

Baked Apples and Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
5 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 Apples, cored and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup margarine
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons honey

Instructions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2.  Boil sweet potatoes in water until they are almost tender.
3.  Grease the casserole dish with margarine.
4.  Put a layer of sweet potatoes on the bottom of the dish, kids can help too!
5.  Add a layer of apple slices.
6.  Add some sugar, salt, and tiny pieces of margarine to the apple layer.
7.  Repeat steps 4, 5 and 6 to make more layers of sweet potatoes, apples, and sugar/salt.
8.  Sprink the rest of the brown sugar, margarine, and nutmeg on top.
9.  Mix the hot water and honey together and pour on top of the apples and sweet potatoes.
10.  Bake for about 30 minutes until apples are tender.



Source:  Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Program, Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network Website recipes